Carrier



Sept. 1 l, 1951 Filed March 21, 1947 ,FNVENTOR.

. VINCENT J. HEPP ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 11, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CARRIER Vincent J. Hepp, Philadelphia, Pa.

Application March 21, 1947, Serial No. 736,187

(on. 294-6r) (Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as amended April 30, 1928; 370 O. G. 757) 3 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in carriers and more particularly to improvements in devices for gripping and transporting an object.

The primary object is to provide a carrier of simple and durable construction adapted to grip an object and serve as a holder for transporting said object.

Another object is to provide a carrier adapted to grip an object disposed in a horizontal or angular position and serve as a holder for transporting said object in a vertical position.

Another object is to provide a carrier adapted to grip an object and serve as a holder for transporting said object in such a manner that a delicate or sensitive portion of said object will not be disturbed.

Further objects and advantages of this invention, as well as its construction, arrangement and operation will be apparent from the following description and claims in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. l is a plan view of a carrier, showing a preferred embodiment of the invention; and

Fig. 2 is a side View thereof.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

A first arcuate band II is hinged to a second arcuate band l3 by a hinge l5 provided with a hinge pin I! to form a collar that describes more than half of the circle defined by said bands. A spring arm I9 secured to the periphery of said first band ll adjacent said hinge by bolts 2| extends over the periphery of the adjacent portion of said second band I3 to retain said second band from pivoting outwardly relative to said first band on the axis of said hinge pin.

Lugs 23 and 25 positioned at spaced points on the peripheries of the bands I I and I3 respectively, preferably at the points of intersection of a diameter of the defined circle and said bands, are provided with bores 21 and 29 respectively, said bores being adapted to receive a chain hereinafter described.

Legs 3| and 33 secured to and dependent from spaced points on the peripheries of the bands H and I3 respectively, preferably intermediate said hinge and said lugs respectively, are provided with feet 35 and 31 respectively, said feet being disposed inwardly distal said bands, and preferably parallel to radii of the circle defined by said bands when said bands are in normal or contracted position.

An endless chain 39 of suitable length passes from a gripping ring 4|, through the lug 23,

thence around the periphery of said bands through the lug 25 and thence back to the said ring 4 I.

When the bands H and 13 are distended and then released in such juxtaposition to the object that the said bands encircle a portion of the body of an object, the legs 3i and 33 lie adjacent to said object and the feet 35 and 31 are disposed contiguous to an end of said object. The spring arm [9 retains said bands in engagement with the object, and by engaging the gripping ring 4! and pulling said ring away from the object, the chain 39 is made suitably taut and the object can be transported. After the object has been moved to a desired location, the carrier is disengaged therefrom by distending said bands.

It is apparent that the carrier is adapted to grip and transport an object of any shape and is particularly suited to grip and transport cylindrical objects. It is further apparent that the carrier can be employed to grip one or more of a plurality of objects stowed horizontally and transport said object or objects in a vertical position.

Various modifications and changes can be made in the subject device without departing from the scope of the invention.

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

I claim:

1. A carrier comprising a first arcuate band, a second arcuate band hinged to said first band and rotatable in relation thereto, the peripheries of said bands in one position defining the greater portion of a circle, a spring secured to the periphery of said first band extending over the periphery of said second band and adapted to restrict rotation of said second band with relation to said first band, a plurality of legs in spaced relation dependent from said bands, said legs having a portion distal said bands extending inward to form a base for an object, a plurality of lugs in spaced relation secured to said bands and means engaging said lugs for lifting said carrier.

2. A carrier comprising a first arcuate band, a second arcuate band hinged to said first band, the peripheries of said bands in one position defining the greater portion of a circle, a spring secured to the convex face of said first band extending over a portion of the convex face of said second band and adapted to restrict rotation of said second band with relation to said first band, a plurality of legs in spaced relation dependent from said bands, said legs having a portion distal said bands extending inward to form a base for an object, a lug having a bore therethrough secured to each of said bands, and an endless chain passing through said bores.

3. A carrier comprising a first arcuate band, a second arcuate band hinged to said first band, the peripheries of said bands in one position defining the greater portion of a circle, a spring secured to the convex face of said first band extending over a portion of the convex face of said second band and adapted to restrict rotation of said second band with relation to said first band, a plurality of legs in spaced relation dependent from said bands, said legs having a portion distal said bands extending inward to form a base for an object, a lug having a bore therethrough secured to each of said bands medial the convex face of each said band, and an endless chain passing through said bores.

VINCENT J. HEPP.

4 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 253,269 Dowling 'Feb. 7, 1882 652,532 Cartland June 26, 1900 686,026 Carpenter Nov. 5, 1901 712,355 Blossom Oct. 28, 1902 729,231 Smith May 26, 1903 790,874 Donovan et a1 May 23, 1905 1,744,103 Burrows Jan. 21, 1930 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 215,483 Germany Oct. 27, 1909 453,914 Germany Dec. 30, 1927 5,315 Sweden July 28, 1894 

